Africa-Press – Botswana. Farmers have been told that vaccinating cattle against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Zone 11 will affect their value.
“The international markets do not prefer vaccinated meat and if we can choose to vaccinate, then we will end up running the risk of losing our lucrative European Union market,” Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said when addressing Phitshane Molopo residents.
Instead of vaccinating the animals, Dr Dikoloti pleaded with the residents to come up with strategic ways of eradicating the disease, which had found its way in Zone 11 in March.
He further said the economic effects of recording positive cases in Zone 11 were already felt across the country, with the Botswana Meat Commission already anticipated to make losses as they were now stuck with stock valued over P2 million, which was destined for European Union market.
The Acting Minister also said BMC was not only stuck with stock that could otherwise have long been bought, but they also had to close shop.
He went on to say that even butcheries, which had employed a considerable number of people were out of business, which had affected a number of households.
He lamented that it was high time that the community joined government officials to work together in the fight against FMD.
Even though the residents requested for a ranch to keep their animals, Dr Dikoloti opined that the FMD virus did not choose whether the cattle were in a ranch or not.
He cited the Ramatlabama ranch case, saying it was well secured, but the disease somehow found its way in.
He said the ranch in question and the other one which acted as a feedlot in Hildavale were the first places to report FMD positive cases.
“If not treated with the utmost care and seriousness that it required from each and every individual, the disease will always find its way even in secured places,” he said.
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